Pittsburgh Public Safety officials held ceremonies Thursday to promote and swear in a number of men and women in the bureaus of fire and EMS.

The ceremonies were held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, a venue necessary to allow for social distancing.

Promotions included four to the rank of captain — Christopher Aiello, James Harkins, Joseph Kuntz and Richard Shay — and 13 to lieutenant: Ralph Browning, Kari Burnham, Frank Caputo, Mark Godlewski, Garrett Meade, Matthew Novotny, Keith Ott, Adam Robinson, Guy Scatena, Patrick Stack, Philip Thompson, D’Lon Walker and Richard Willett.

Burnham is one of just five women in the bureau of fire, officials noted, and her promotion to lieutenant makes her the highest-ranking woman in the department. She is also the first woman promoted to that rank since 1995.

In the bureau of EMS, Matthew Guerriero and Daniel Kerns were sworn in as EMTs, Samson Adams and Michael Gualdoni were sworn in as paramedics and Roxanne Elk was promoted to paramedic.

Public safety leaders reminded the new EMTs and paramedics, captains and lieutenants, that they are often meeting people on their worst day.

“People call you because they’re in trouble,” Director Wendell Hissrich told those in the EMS bureau. “Even though you may not think … it’s a serious call, the patient does. The first few minutes – the interaction with the patient, the patient’s family – they will remember probably for the rest of their lives.”

Fire Chief Darryl Jones delivered a similar sentiment to the newly promoted lieutenants and captains, noting that people will judge the department based on their interactions with firefighters.

“That quality starts with you at the street level,” he said. “Whenever there’s a problem, people see me on the news, and I may be the face of the bureau but you are the ones who make the bureau work – make the bureau what it is.”

EMS Chief Ronald Romano thanked the families for their sacrifices as well.

“Thank you for sharing them with us and understanding when they miss a family event because they were helping someone else,” he said.

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